After last years big monsoon trek of Mahipatgad, Sumargad and Rasalgad, the confidence of our trekking group was at a high. Hence we decided to repeat the big monsoon trek around the same time (mid August) in the same region (southern Sahyadris). I planned the itinerary: Mangalgad, Chandragad and if possible ascent to Arthur Seat at Mahabaleshwar. Though I swear by Harish Kapadia’s book on trekking, I did need more information which was obtained thanks to the wonders of orkut.com!
We set out on Friday to Pune by a late night bus and caught the early morning bus to Khed which passes by the Varandha ghat. Our group of five trekkers (four men, one woman) got down at Dhalkathi, a little ahead of Varandha village for the bus to Pimpalwadi. The base of Mangalgad (or Kangori) fort is Dudhanewadi or Pimpalwadi (almost the same place) and from Dhalkathi, a phata goes to this village. Buses and ricks are available, either ways it is a bumpy ride.
We set out on Friday to Pune by a late night bus and caught the early morning bus to Khed which passes by the Varandha ghat. Our group of five trekkers (four men, one woman) got down at Dhalkathi, a little ahead of Varandha village for the bus to Pimpalwadi. The base of Mangalgad (or Kangori) fort is Dudhanewadi or Pimpalwadi (almost the same place) and from Dhalkathi, a phata goes to this village. Buses and ricks are available, either ways it is a bumpy ride.
Shelter in Pimpalwadi was in a great temple overlooking rice fields. The place is dry, has a light and the floor is smooth and clean. What more can one ask! We cooked our delicious meal of soup, noodles, rice and chicken with a papad or two to go with it. We discussed our next day options. I slept to catch up on two nights’ worth of sleep while my cousin decided to go back next day to Pune. After watching the fireflies in the fields, at night, we finally decided to catch the early morning bus to Mahad and head to Umrath for Chandragad. The bus to Mahad comes at 6:15 in the morning. Pimpalwadi is connected by a bus from Thane which leaves at night from the latter and reaches next morning.
-monsoon trekker
1 comments:
I'll be going to Mangalgad this month. Your post was helpful (purpose served :)) But you seem to have not begun trekking this monsoon. So how does an interested participant join you?
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